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Luke Dormehl - page 144

Today in Apple history: The final Apple II model arrives

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The Apple IIc Plus was the sixth and final model in the Apple II line.
The sixth and final model in the Apple II series of computers.
Photo: TanRu Nomad

September 15: Today in Apple history: Apple IIc Plus, the final Apple II model, arrives September 15, 1988: Apple releases the Apple IIc Plus, the sixth and final model in the Apple II computer series. It’s a great machine, with impressive capabilities, but suffers from poor marketing and support.

With the Mac around, Cupertino simply doesn’t seem interested in the Apple computer anymore.

Move over, iPhone XS Max! These are the worst Apple product names of all time.

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Gather Round
Great phones, terrible names.
Photo: Apple

Let’s not beat around the bush — the new iPhone names are a mess. “iPhone XS Max” sounds like a body spray for teenagers and the “XR” in iPhone XR means … well, not very much at all.

Today’s iPhones are an explosion of confused branding.

But the 2018 iPhones definitely aren’t the first time Apple products bore baffling, awkward or just plain rubbish names. Brace yourself for a repulsive refresher as we recount the worst Apple product names of all time.

LCD display and software issues are behind iPhone XR’s delay

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The new iPhones go on sale tomorrow. Are you ready?
iPhone XR fans will have to wait until next month to get their new handsets.
Photo: Apple

The reason why Apple’s lowest cost new iPhone, the iPhone XR, isn’t shipping for another month is due to challenges relating to both software and the device’s LCD display, a new report claims.

According to Ryan Reith, IDC’s vice president of research on mobile device, Apple has been struggling to secure enough of its completed LCD displays. In addition, it has had to make software-related changes to improve the visuals for its so-called “Liquid Retina” display.

You don’t need an app to read NFC tags with iPhone XS or XR

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iPhone XS Max
Another neat feature to (help) justify your spend!
Photo: Apple

One feature that didn’t get mentioned during this week’s iPhone event is the fact that the new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR models let users scan NFC tags without requiring an app running in the background.

This means that places such as museums, retail stores, and other locations which make use of NFC tags can utilize them more readily — or, at least, that iPhone users can access them more easily. Instead of having to launch an app that puts your iPhone in NFC Reader mode, just walk up and scan any compatible tag. Easy, right?

Some iPhone XS Max and Apple Watch Series 4 models sell out in under a minute

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pre-orders
Did you get the device you wanted?
Photo: Apple

Did your alarm fail to go off? Were you on the fence about the new iPhones and Apple Watch Series 4, but now feel like you should place an order after all? Sorry to break it to you, but you might have left things too late.

According to frantic would-be customers, many of Apple’s new devices have already sold out. In fact, some models of the new iPhone and Apple Watch Series 4 sold out in less than a minute!

Apple Watch’s new ECG reader is great, but don’t bet your life on it

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Apple Watch Series 4
Some things you should know about the FDA clearance of the new Apple Watch's EKG.
Photo: Apple

At yesterday’s iPhone and Apple Watch event, Apple revealed that it has received Food and Drug Administration clearance for the Apple Watch Series 4’s new electrocardiogram feature. In theory, this marks the ascension of the Apple Watch from a wellness health tracker to a full-fledged medical device.

But people shouldn’t be too quick to jump to conclusions about the Apple Watch’s FDA-approval stamp. Adam Masin, a litigator who deals with medical device manufacturers in product liability lawsuits, made a few crucial points on Twitter.

Tim Cook: Why Apple’s priciest ever iPhones are still a great deal

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Tim Cook earnings apple
The new iPhones may be pricey, but consider how much they can do!
Illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

With the iPhone XS Max running up to $1,449 for the 512GB version, Apple’s smartphones have never been pricier. But Tim Cook insists that they still represent a good deal for customers.

Why? According to a new interview with the Apple CEO, it’s because they’re such multi-functional devices — which allow us to own one single gadget in place of many. And that’s worth the cash.

New A12 Bionic chip makes 2018 iPhones into AI powerhouses

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A12 processor
The Neural Engine gives the iPhone a super smart brain.
Photo: Apple

Apple called the new iPhones‘ A12 Bionic chip “the smartest and most powerful chip ever in a smartphone.” And despite the company’s occasional hyperbole and frequent marketing wizardry, it’s not kidding around.

Here’s why the A12 is so exciting — and what that means for Apple’s Core ML machine learning platform.

Apple finally adds multiple timers to HomePod

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Apple debuts HomePod in India at its cheapest price yet
HomePod got a brief shout-out during Apple's media event.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

HomePod is finally adding one of the most used features found on the Amazon Echo and Google Home devices: multiple timers.

In his wrap-up to today’s Apple media event, which primarily focused on the new iPhones and Apple Watch, Tim Cook took a second to remind us that the HomePod is alive and kicking. And getting a couple of handy new features, too.

Netflix picks up Steven Soderbergh’s latest movie shot on iPhone

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Soderbergh
Steven Soderbergh is an iPhone convert when it comes to shooting movies.
Photo: Nicolas Genin/Wikipedia CC

Netflix has bought the global distribution rights to Steven Soderbergh’s latest movie High Flying Bird — which, true to the iconic director’s previous word, was shot on iPhone.

This is the second movie by the Academy Award-winning director to be shot using one of Apple’s handsets. After the release of his last movie Unsane, Soderbergh said he was leaning toward shooting all his future projects on iPhone. It seems that he wasn’t kidding!

Get ready to splash some serious cash on this year’s iPhones

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2018 iPhone compared to 2017 iPhone X
Last year's iPhones will soon be thought of as the “affordable ones.”
Photo: Jonas Dähnert

We’re less than 12 hours away from Apple unveiling its new iPhones, and analysts are taking a last stab at predicting the prices of the company’s new handsets.

The bad news? Provided their estimates are accurate, this year’s top-end iPhone could blow past the $1,000 price barrier of the iPhone X — as the success of last year’s handsets showed that there is no upper limit yet for how much people will pay. And the lower cost model likely isn’t too far behind!

California Apple Store is robbed twice in less than 24 hours

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Apple adds 5 new vice presidents to its executive lineup
Maybe time to hire some extra security!
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

The Apple Store crime spree continues in California.

While another Apple Store robbery in the state may not be a shock, the number of times this particular store has been robbed certainly is. Monday’s robbery of the Apple Store in Roseville marked the fourth time in 20 days that the outlet has been burglarized — and the second in just 24 hours!

Instagram tests user tagging feature in videos

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Instagram lawsuit
Hopefully it won't be long before it rolls out for all users.
Photo: Pixabay

Instagram is testing a new feature which lets users tag their friends in video posts, instead of simply still photos. The feature is currently being trialled with a small number of users, although hopefully it won’t be too long before it rolls out to everyone.

The feature works in a similar way to tagging photos, only that instead of overlaying tags on top of the content, there is a page titled “People in this Video” that shows everyone in a video.

iPhone X and iPad Pro imports risk being banned in South Korea

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Ex-student sentenced to 3 years in prison for massive iPhone scam
Apple is accused of violating a patent belonging to one of South Korea's top research institutes.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A number of Apple devices, including the iPhone X and iPad Pro, run the risk of being banned from South Korea, the home of Apple’s long-time frenemy Samsung.

The Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy is currently investigating allegations that Apple has infringed on a patent belonging to KAIST, a public research university based in South Korea. The investigation period has already been extended twice, and BusinessKorea suggests that the regulatory commission is likely to make its “final determination” in favor of KAIST.

Facebook’s ban of Alex Jones was prompted by Apple

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Alex Jones at a rally of people claiming the 9/11 terror attacks were carried out by the U.S. government.
Alex Jones at a rally of people claiming the 9/11 terror attacks were carried out by the U.S. government.
Photo: 911conspiracy/Flickr CC

Apple’s decision to boot five of far-right conspiracy theory website InfoWars’ podcasts off its platform was the trigger for Facebook doing the same with several of host Alex Jones’ pages on the social network.

The factoid was revealed in a new profile of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, published in the New Yorker. Apple has since banned Jones from the App Store permanently.

Smark translation device feels strangely retro in iPhone age [Review]

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Translator
Can Smark do anything our iPhone can't do?
Photo: Luke Dormehl/Cult of Mac

The Smark modular translator is something like Star Trek’s universal translator, a device able to instantly convert spoken words from one language to another.

In the 1960s, this was pure sci-fi. But here in 2018, translation apps on our smartphones can handle the task with ease and accuracy. At this point, is there any reason for a standalone translation device? Smark offers some features that might make it appealing to travelers.

Bigger iPhones could explain Apple’s booming Services business

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iphone mockups
The biggest iPhone lineup Apple's ever made.
Photo: Macotakara

Is Apple’s push to release ever-larger iPhones anything to do with the growing success of its Services division? That’s the theory put forward by the Wall Street Journal.

Drawing on Kantar data, the report notes how larger screens are linked with greater usage of everything from apps to watching videos. It would also explain why Apple is seemingly in no rush to upgrade its 4-inch iPhone SE, despite the fact that some users love it.

Classic puzzler Professor Layton and the Curious Village coming to iOS

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Professor Layton
Coming soon to an App Store near you.
Photo: Level-5

According to a post on the official App Store Twitter account, the celebrated puzzle adventure game Professor Layton and the Curious Village is on its way to iOS.

Released for the Nintendo DS in Japan back in 2007, and in North America the year after, Curious Village is the first title in the immensely popular Professor Layton series. It was ported to mobile for the Japanese market in June this year, but this is the first time we’ve heard about an English language version for iOS. And we couldn’t be happier!

Apple acquires feature-length documentary and animated movie

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apple tv
Apple's original content catalog is getting even better.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple has acquired the rights to two feature-length films as part of its original content efforts. The first is a feature documentary, titled The Elephant Queen of Athena, while the second is an animated film called Wolfwakers.

The Elephant Queen of Athena was opened up to buyers earlier this year at the European Film Market in Berlin, Germany. Following the story of an elephant matriarch who leads her family on journey across Africa in search of food and water, it’s been likened to 2005’s highly successful March of the Penguins.

Apple removes Mac apps which are stealing user data

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The CIA has a team of more than 5,000 hackers.
Problematic apps were stealing user data and sending it to remote servers.
Photo: Brian Klug/Flickr CC

Apple has removed a series of apps from the Mac App Store after they were found to be accessing users’ private data and sending it to remote servers. The apps in question include Adware Doctor, Open Any Files: RAR Support, Dr. Antivirus, and Dr. Cleaner.

The apps duped users into giving them access to their macOS home directories by promising to perform functions such as scanning for viruses or clearing caches. By accessing the home directory, they were then able to gain access to information about users’ browsing history, and more.

Top Mac app steals your browsing history and sends it to China

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The CIA has a team of more than 5,000 hackers.
If you've downloaded Adware Doctor, you may want to reconsider!
Photo: Brian Klug/Flickr CC

A top paid app in the Mac App Store has been revealed as stealing the browser histories of anyone who downloads and uses it.

Adware Doctor is among the top grossing paid apps in the App Store’s utilities category. According to a report by TechCrunch, Apple was warned about the data pilfering several weeks ago, although it has still not pulled the app.

Apple veteran critiques tech’s flawed drive to solve healthcare

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Health
Tech wants to disrupt the healthcare profession.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

A number of tech companies are excited about the possibility of revolutionizing healthcare. However, a long-time Apple veteran believes that the “fast fail” approach employed by many Silicon Valley startups is fundamentally at odds with the requirements of digital health.

Interestingly, while her critiques certainly apply to a number of companies, they don’t totally apply to Apple. That certainly bodes well for the company’s health ambitions going forward.

Qualcomm makes a tactical error in its battle with Apple

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Qualcomm patents
Apple's battle with Qualcomm has raged on for well over a year.
Photo: Qualcomm

Qualcomm has seemingly made a big tactical error in the pre-trial run-up to its infringement court case with Apple — and now it’s trying to get out of it.

According to a report of the events, Qualcomm failed to dispute Apple’s legal argument that certain patents in the case were either invalid or that it did not infringe on them as suggested. Now that we’re closer to the trial, Qualcomm’s lawyers have seemingly realized that this wasn’t the best idea. And the judge isn’t too impressed.

Condé Nast executive joins Apple’s growing News team

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Apple News
Apple has a new head of news business.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has hired ex-Condé Nast executive Liz Schimel to work as part of its Apple News team. Schimel joined the company earlier this summer, and will serve as the “head [of Apple’s] news business.”

It’s another illustration of how Apple is increasing its focus on this area. This comes at a time when rival tech giants like Facebook are more worried than ever about their role in helping disseminate news online.